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Noynoy smells something fishy in move to abolish PET


Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III on Tuesday night smelled something fishy in a move by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election lawyer to have the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) abolished. Aquino also questioned Malacañang’s plan to let Mrs. Arroyo appoint a replacement for the late Sandiganbayan Presiding Judge Norberto Heralde. Aquino told reporters the move by lawyer Romulo Macalintal smacked of the Arroyo administration's continued impunity against established institutions. “Sino ang magre-resolve dahil may HRET tayo, may SET tayo to resolve controversies. Who will take care sa controversies sa presidential contest, which is very important (Who will resolve questions in the presidential race? We have a House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and Senate Electoral Tribunal to resolve controversies. Who will take care of controversies for the presidential race)?" he said. He said the move appeared to stem from the Arroyo government’s growing boldness after the Supreme Court gave Mrs. Arroyo the green light to appoint the next chief justice. Aquino lamented that while the high court made it clear the green light applies only to the selection of a chief justice, the Arroyo administration has taken it to mean a license to make midnight appointments left and right. On the other hand, he said a similar impunity was evident in the Palace’s plan to name a replacement for Heralde. “As usual sinusubukan kaya niya ang impunity sa paglabag sa ating batas at pakialam ko sa opinion niya parang yan ang sinasabi. Pag tayo nagbalewala tutuloy at tutuloy siya (As usual this government is testing the limits of impunity without regard for public opinion. If we let this go, her impunity will grow worse)," he said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV